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I saw a star held to night sky
By the slenderest of threads
Though no portent could apply
To fear and mortal dread
And so was set upon that land
A bright star in my mind
I travelled far across the sand
A newborn king to find
I brought four gifts to lay before
This babe who would be king
A pearl, a ruby, sapphire more
And a diamond did I bring
Yet now these gifts are lost and gone
In fate cast to the wind
Of precious gifts I have not one
To lay before a king
The pearl I gave when soldiers came
To slay a newborn child
A slaughter made in Herod's name
Born out of jealousy wild
A centurion took it for a bribe
And passed the child as dead
Yet to this pearl a life ascribe
As the streets ran with blood red
The ruby holds the misery tale
Of a man and wife as slaves
And the parting of these two by sale
The ruby went to save
Their freedom bought I set them free
But the ruby was no more
With these two jewels I may just see
A king on a stable floor
The sapphire saved the harlots life
As Zealots threw their stones
In justice bought from measured strife
That stone the high priest owns
The mob dispersed to leave the girl
No sinner to berate
Now I just have the diamond's whirl
And pray that I'm not late
Upon the road to Bethlehem
By the bright light of a star
Where thieves and cutthroats fell on men
Who travel from afar?
There lay a traveller beaten sore
By robbers left for dead
The cost a diamond for his care
And all my wealth now shed
I have no gift that I can bring
No wealth I could bestow
I shall not see the newborn king
And from Bethlehem must go
But in the road an angel stands
A bar to block my way
And beckons come with outstretched hands
To one who gave it all away? |
